Pakistan Army Blames Afghan-Based Militants For Balochistan Train Attack
The Pakistan Army has claimed that the mastermind behind the Jaffar Express train attack in Balochistan was operating from Afghanistan.
The Pakistan Army has claimed that the mastermind behind the Jaffar Express train attack in Balochistan was operating from Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry announced that the hostage rescue operation had been completed, with all Baloch separatist militants killed.
Chaudhry stated that the attack was planned and directed by Baloch separatists based in Afghanistan. He revealed that the militants used satellite phones to communicate with their handlers in Afghanistan. He warned that this attack had "changed the rules of the game" and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
The attack occurred on Tuesday when Baloch separatists bombed a railway track, stopping the Jaffar Express with over 400 passengers on board. The train was halted in a remote mountainous area near the Afghanistan-Iran border. Militants took hostages, including women and children, using them as human shields. Suicide bombers were reportedly placed among the hostages, complicating the rescue mission.
The Pakistan Army launched a special forces operation, using snipers to eliminate the suicide bombers. According to Chaudhry, 33 militants were killed, and no hostages were harmed during the operation. However, 21 passengers were killed by the militants before the operation began.
Chaudhry detailed the attack, saying that on March 11, militants blew up a railroad track in Bolan at 1 p.m., stopping the Jaffar Express. He confirmed that all militants at the scene were eliminated, but security forces were still clearing explosives.
The attack has triggered strong political reactions in Pakistan, with several countries condemning the incident.
Despite the army’s claims of success, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed it had executed 50 more hostages in retaliation. The group accused Pakistan of ignoring their warnings and refusing to exchange hostages for imprisoned members.
Baloch separatists alleged that Pakistan used heavy artillery and advanced weapons in the operation, leading to intense clashes. They claimed their fighters repelled the attack and forced Pakistani forces to retreat. The BLA also confirmed that three of its fighters had been killed.
